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Related Concept Videos

Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

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Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity,...
28
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

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The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from...
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Bioreactor Controls-III01:22

Bioreactor Controls-III

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Strain improvement is a foundational strategy in industrial microbiology aimed at maximizing microbial productivity, particularly because natural isolates typically yield commercially valuable products in very low concentrations. Although optimizing the culture medium and environmental conditions can improve yields, these adjustments are inherently limited by the organism’s genetic potential. As a result, the focus shifts toward genetic modifications to enhance biosynthetic capacity. The...
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iChip01:24

iChip

23
The cultivation of environmental microorganisms has long been hindered by the inability to replicate complex native conditions in vitro. The isolation chip (iChip) addresses this limitation by facilitating the growth of previously uncultivable microorganisms through in situ incubation. Designed for high-throughput microbial cultivation, the iChip comprises hundreds of microchambers, each capable of housing a single microbial cell. These microchambers are loaded with a mixture of molten agar and...
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The Oral Microbiota01:27

The Oral Microbiota

7
The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
7
Microbiota of the Large Intestine01:27

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

2
The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Updated Protocol for the Assembly and Use of the Minibioreactor Array (MBRA)
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A Toolbox for Microbiome Engineering.

Mohamed S Donia1

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.

Cell Systems
|May 3, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Scientists engineered key human gut bacteria using genetic tools. These advancements pave the way for novel cell-based diagnostics and therapeutics, improving microbiome health.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetic Engineering
  • Synthetic Biology

Background:

  • The human gut microbiome plays a crucial role in health and disease.
  • Engineering key gut microbes is challenging but essential for therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and apply genetic tools for engineering a prominent human gut bacterium.
  • To establish foundational methods for future cell-based diagnostics and therapeutics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized advanced genetic engineering techniques.
  • Focused on a specific, abundant species within the human gut microbiome.

Main Results:

  • Successfully engineered the target gut bacterium.
  • Demonstrated the feasibility of genetic manipulation in this organism.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Updated Protocol for the Assembly and Use of the Minibioreactor Array (MBRA)
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Conclusions:

  • Genetic engineering of human gut microbes is achievable.
  • This work represents a significant step towards microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutics.